Liquid dispenser having plural discharge guides



Jan. 10, 1967 E. D. UNGER 3,297,211

' LIQUID DISPENSER HAVING PLURAL DISCHARGE GUIDES Filed April 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EARL D. u/vave BY fi EM" m.

ATTORNEYS E. D. UNGER Jan. 10, 1967 LIQUID DISPENSER HAVING PLURAL DISCHARGE GUIDES Filed April 5, 19 65 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e 3 TN m m0 L M 5 BY ja Y Q ATTORNEYS United States Patent'O of Indiana Filed Apr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 445,576 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-479) The present invention relates to whiskey pourers and, more particularly, to an improved whiskey pourer capable of providing the consumer with accurate control over both the quantity of liquor dispensed and the rate of pouring.

It has been customary practice in many liquid bottling operations to supply bottles with separate pouring devices with the consumer or establishment being required to provide a pouring device where necessary or desired. With the increasing popularity and demand for half-gallon bottles of liquor, separate pouring devices supplied by the bottler are attached to the bottle neck by the customer, if he so desires. Liquor bottles of this general size could be quite unwieldy and diflicult to manage particularly by women and certainly where a small receptacle such as a "gger of one or two ounce capacity is to be filled. In the absence of a suitable pouring device, it would be extremely difficult to control and predict the quantity of liquor dispensed and regulate the rate of pouring. Spil lage would inevitably take place thereby creating waste and loss of valuable liquor.

The function of the typical pouring device is to facilitate pouring of small or even large quantities of liquor at a controllable rate of about one-half to one ounce per second without splashing, spurting, dribbling or otherwise spilling the liquor. As explained, these pouring devices are generally necessary particularly when the consumer desires to pour from the large one-half gallon bottle into a small receptacle such as a jigger. The pouring devices which have been separately supplied in the past perform this dispensing function. However, pouring devices of this type are comparatively expensive to manufacture since they are relatively large in size and since considerable manual labor is required for their assembly. In addition to the inconvenience to the customer of attaching these pouring devices to the neck of the bottle, facilities are not available for effectively sealing the bottle after the pouring device has been attached to prevent loss of liquor by evaporation or spillage if the bottle is accidently knocked over.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved pouring device by which liquor can be poured from bottles in a controlled manner and which is capable of being affixed onto the neck of the bottle at the distillery while, at the same time, being efiectively sealed by a threaded cap covering both the pourer and the neck of the bottle; and in order to deploy the pourer, it is only necessary for the consumer to remove the cap, pour the desired amount of liquor, and recap the bottle to reseal it against loss of liquor by evaporation or spillage.

Another object is to provide a pourer of this type which is designed to be molded from organic resins at relatively low cost and without the expenditure of costly manual labor in assembling the pourer onto the neck of the bottle thereby keeping the unit manufacturing cost at a minimum without necessity of increasing the price paid by the customer for the bottle of liquor bearing the built-in pourer.

Prior attempts at this type of pourer have not proved entirely satisfactory or successful. The several objections include poor or unacceptable rate of pouring, generally taken to be one-half ounce per second and slower; the inability to readily drain all of the liquor in the bottle 3,297,211 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 ice because of the trapping of a certain amount due to design of the pourer which necessitated complete removal of the pourer to eliminate the trapped liquid; the presence of intermittent, slug-wise flow as the liquor flowed out of the pourer and air flowed inwardly; or the inability to accurately control the stream of liquor being poured particularly during the initial stages as a result of gushing and splashing at least to the extent that the stream being poured would miss entirely the open mouth of a relatively small jigger.

It is, accordingly, a further object to provide a pourer which is capable of producing the desired flow characteristics of the poured liquid stream during all stages of the pouring cycle and, at the same time, permit total drainage of liquor from the bottle without the inconvenience of removing the pourer from the neck of the bottle.

Briefly stated, the present invention envisions a pouring device adapted to be snap fitted on the neck of a liquor bottle. An outer tubular pouring spout serves to direct the liquid being poured to the desired location. An inner tube extends inwardly of the pouring spout and in substantial concentric relationship therewith inwardly of the neck of the bottle. An air vent is provided at the inner end of the tube for permitting the passage of air into the bottle to replace the liquid poured therefrom. A number of liquid discharge ports are provided at the other end of the tube for directing the liquid from the interior of the bottle to the pouring spout. A baifie arrangement located interiorly of the neck of the bottle and in concentric relation with respect to the tube serves to minimize the efifects of impact and splashing of the liquid against the pouring device to prevent spurting of the liquid from the pouring device and cooperates to achieve accurate control over both the quantity of liquor dispensed and the rate of pouring thereof.

A cap for the bottle is adapted to be threadedly engaged with the neck. This cap is so constructed and arranged with respect to the neck of the bottle and the pouring device to provide an initial seal between the pouring spout. A subsequent seal is effected between an annular shoulder on the interior of the cap and peripheral surfaces of the pouring device. Both seals and the order of their creation takes place upon threadedly engaging the cap with the neck of the bottle. In order to permit the contents of the bottle to be poured through the pouring device, the cap need only be removed for such purposes.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken in conjunction with the following detailed description and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquor bottle having associated with its neck, a pouring device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of association and disposition of the pouring device with respect to the bottle neck;

FIG. 3 is a similar enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view showing a cap mounted in sealing relationship with respect to the bottle neck and pouring device;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded elevational view partly in section illustrating the parts constituting the pouring device;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the pouring device; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the pouring device with splash baflle removed.

In the drawings, a liquor bottle 10 has mounted at its neck 12 a pouring device 14 both of which cooperate with a cap 16 in sealing the liquid contents. Although the size and capacity of the bottle may vary over a relatively wide range, the present invention has particular application to half-gallon liquor bottles. The neck 12 of the bottle is reduced in size and terminates in an upper lip or bead 18. A circumferentially extending recess is spaced from the lip 18 as is the case with outer threads 22.

The pouring device 14 is adapted to extend across the open end of the neck 12 of the bottle 10 and operates to permit the consumer to accurately control both the quantity and rate of liquor to be dispensed. In this regard, the pouring device 12 is provided with a radial flange 24 having a downwardly depending rim 26 having an inwardly projecting head 28 adapted to neatly engage with the surfaces defining the annular recess 20. Extending inwardly of the flange 24 is a tube 30 adapted to be concentrically disposed within the neck 12 of the bottle, as shown. The inner end of the tube 30 is closed by means of a downwardly and inwardly tapered wall 32 which is provided with a central air vent hole or opening 34 for permitting entry of air into the interior of the bottle 10 to replace the liquid poured therefrom. The other or outer end of the tube 30 is outwardly tapered and integrally united with the flange 24. At this end, the tube 30 is provided with a series of liquid drainage ports 36 which are spaced or interrupted by means of the wall dividers 38. These ports are adapted to provide access for the liquid within the bottle 10 to the tubular pouring spout 40. This pouring spout 40 is arranged in substantial concentric relationship with respect to the inner tube 30 and is also integrally united with the flange 24. The outer end 42 of the pouring spout 40 assumes a bellshaped configuration including an outer tapered pouring lip 44 which cooperates in preventing liquid from running down the outside of the pouring spout 40.

The cap 16 is adapted to cooperate with both the pouring device 14 and bottle neck 12 to effectively seal the liquid contents of the bottle 10. In this connection, the cap 16 is provided with a top 46 the interior surface of which has suitably attached thereto a liner 48 the interior face of which is adapted to sealingly engage the pouring lip 42 when the cap 16 is turned on the threaded neck 12 of the bottle 10. An annular shoulder 50 is located radially outwardly of liner 43 and is spaced longitudinally thereof away from the cap top 46 to be in a position to engage with the top face of the radial flange 24. As will be brought out fully below, the pouring spout 42 is adapted to engage with the liner 48 to initially provide a seal at this junction; and then the shoulder 50 is adapted to be engaged with the radial flange 24 to effect an annular seal at this juncture. The cap is then provided with internal threads 52 between the open end 54 of the cap and the shoulder 50 for mating with the threads 22 of the bottle neck 12. Thus, by simply turning the cap such that its internal threads engage with the threads of the bottle neck, the cap is adapted to be removed from the neck to pour liquor or attach thereto to seal the liquid contents.

An important contribution to the art by this invention is the bathing or gating arrangement by which spurting and splashing of the liquid during pouring particularly the initial stages is minimized if not eliminated entirely. Towards this end, a shield or baffle fence or gating means of spaced panels 56 extends inwardly from the flange 24. These panels are arranged to be in concentric relationship with respect to the series of drainage ports 36 and located in such a manner to be located radially in line relative thereto. As will be described in detail shortly, the total area afforded by the space between the panels 56 equals that of the total area of the ports 36. A circular splash baffle or guard 58 extending radially from collar 60 is mounted on the tube 30 in abutting relationship with the free ends of the panels 56. A number of lugs 62 serve to retain the collar 60 and, consequently, the guard 58 in this abutting relationship. As will be evident, the

circumferentially extending periphery 64 of the guard 58 is spaced inwardly of the neck 12 and defines therewith an opening the area of which is at least that afforded by the drainage ports 36.

It will be readily appreciated that the necessity of separating the opposing streams of liquor and air is eliminated by employing essentially a single tube 30 in which a multiplicity of liquid drainage ports 36 are located at one end whereas a small diameter air vent hole is located at the other end. In order for this tube 30 to function as a passageway for both liquor and air flowing in opposite directions, it is preferred that the minimum diameter be in the neighborhood of approximately 0.43 inch for a maximum flow rate approaching three-quarters of an ounce of whiskey per second. A reduction in diameter to about 0.33 inch will result in the tube becoming choked with a mixture of air and liquor and, consequently, flow rate will be greatly reduced. The provisions for shielding and baffling afforded by this invention for the liquor flow ports contributes to the total elimination of choking and optimum pouring rates are, consequently, achieved. As mentioned in the above, this shielding of the drainage ports 36 is provided by the panels or pickets 56 arranged in a fence-like manner with each picket being disposed opposite each of the drainage ports 36. Contributing to the elimination of choking is the incorporation of the circular splash guard 58. The flow of liquor will, therefore, be initially through the spacing between the baffle ports and then the drainage ports 36.

In the above, it was mentioned that the present invention prefers equalizing the total area between pickets 56 and the total area of the drainage ports 36. In a preferred design of pouring device, this total area is equal to 0.104 square inch or 0.0174 square inch per port. With this liquid port area, the rate of pouring is 0.75 ounce per second which, in many instances, is judged to be optimum for pouring small size servings of liquor. The preferred range of pouring rates is within one halfto one ounce per second. It should be realized that this is the maximum pouring rate which is achieved by tilting the bottle to a substantially vertical position.

If the customer desires to pour at a slower rate, he can control the speed of flow by decreasing the angle of tilt even to the point of reducing flow to a mere trickle. In this manner, the customer can carefully and accurately regulate the quantity of liquor dispensed or he can deliver liquor at a substantial rate up to the preferred maximum of 0.75 ounce per second and then quickly reduce the rate by decreasing the angle of bottle tilt. The consumer, therefore, achieves accurate control over both the quantity of liquor dispensed and the rate of pouring.

The baffiing arrangement provided by this invention, and particularly the splash guard, reduces, if not prevents, the impact effect of liquor experienced during the initial stages of inclination of the bottle. This results in a substantial elimination of any tendency for the liquid to spurt when the bottle is initially inclined for pouring thereby rendering it possible to direct the pouring stream into the receiving jigger without spillage. The flow of liquid would necessarily follow the tortuous path of the annular area between the splash guard and the neck 12 of the bottle 10, the space between the fence pickets or panels, the drainage ports and eventually the pouring spout. In the aforementioned specific example, the area between the annular splash guard and the neck of the bottle was 0.18 square inch.

The path of flow of air inwardly into the bottle 10 is through the pouring tube and then the air vent hole at the tube base. The size of this hole should be such that air will pass freely into the' bottle and substantially no liquor will flow in the opposite direction. In the aforementioned specific embodiment, a hole diameter of substantially 0.093 inch is considered optimum.

In this specific embodiment, the length of pouring tube Was approximately 1.5 inches. A longer tube developed a faster pouring rate and a shorter tube poured at a slower rate. Naturally, the length of tube may be varied together with the other parameters to compensate for the length change to attain the desired pouring rate.

The bell-shaped pouring spout renders it possible to tilt the bottle back to its normal vertical upright position without spilling or dribbling a drop of liquor dOWn the side of the spout. The top surface of the spout is so constructed and arranged that it will provide, a u stantially liquor tight seal against the bottom or inside surface of the liner of the cap. As previously explained, this sealing zone is supplemented by the seal provided by the cap shoulder and pouring device flange. The retention of liquor within the bottle except during the controlled pouring operation is further enhanced by the effective seal provided between the snap-on rim of the pouring device and the bottle lip.

In the proposed pouring device of this invention, the drainage ports are adjacent the bottom surface of the flange. By means of this design, all of the liquor in the bottle is capable of being drained and none will remain trapped within the bottle or in the pouring device.

Although a wide range of materials may be employed for purposes of fabricating the pouring device of this invention, it is preferred that organic resins be utilized that have rather soft and pliable properties. This facilitates the snap-on fit of the pouring device rim with the bottle neck and maintenance of a substantially liquor tight seal along this annular zone. In addition, the type of plastic utilized should not in any way affect the flavor or any other desired characteristic of the liquor in the bottle. Resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, among others, have been proved to be satisfactory for fulfilling the above requirements.

During the application of the cap and sealing the con tents of the bottle thereby, the pouring spout will be compressed by the cap. This action will also create a degree of flexure of the flange. The degree of this compression and flexing is controlled somewhat by the cap shoulder, its relationship with respect to the cap liner and the relationship between the pouring spout of the pouring device and the flange. Thus, as the cap is screwed on to the bottle neck, the shoulder seats on to the flange thus providing a liquor tight seal not only at this junction but between the cap liner and spout. In addition, this action will further assure the seal between the flange and the bottle lip.

With respect to the cap, the type of organic resin employed for its fabrication may be selected from those ordinarily employed in the fabrication of bottle caps. In those instances where it is desired for one reason or another to not have the liquor come in contact with the material of the cap, a conventional cap liner which may be of the type disclosed herein formed of pulp paper coated with a vinyl plastic film, may be secured to the inside surface of the cap top. This liner will form a liquid tight seal with the pouring device of this invention. The cap construction contemplated by this invention has utilized such materials as polypropylene and impact grade polystyrene resins with attendant acceptable results.

Thus, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended I claims.

I claim:

1. A pouring device for attachment to the neck of a liquor bottle for accurate control over the quantity of liquor dispensed and the rate of pouring, comprising a pouring tube adapted to be arranged essentially concentrically inside the bottle and interiorly of the neck, said tube having a restricted inner end provided with a central air vent hole for directing ambient air inwardly into the bottle replacing the liquid being poured, said tube having an outer end and a series of liquid drainage ports spaced inwardly of the outer end and communicating with the interior of the tube, a radially extending annular flange integrally connected with the tube at the tube outer end, a circumferentially extending rim integral with and depending from the outer periphery of the flange, said rim having means for sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle neck, a substantially concentric tubular pouring spout extending integrally and outwardly from the flange and communicating with the interior of the tube to direct air thereto and communicating with the drainage ports for directing liquid passing through such ports in a controlled manner, and annular gating means being disposed concentrically and radially outwardly with respect to the drainage ports and being provided with a second series of spaced openings spaced from one another by spaced panels and through which the liquor is adapted to pass into the said liquid drainage ports.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second series of drainage ports is in ofiset relationship and the panels being substantially radially aligned with respect to said liquid drainage ports whereupon the annular gating means operates as a bame for the liquor traveling to said liquid drainage ports.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein a substantially circular bafile is positioned on said tube and extends radially therefrom between the liquid drainage ports and the inner end of said tube and serves as a splash baflle for receiving the impact of liquid in the bottle that is led to said liquid drainage ports and the pouring spout.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tubular pouring spout is provided with a bell-shaped pouring lip at its outer end operable both as a sealing means and as a inhibitor for liquid dripping down the exterior surface of the pouring spout when the pouring device is placed in an upright position following a pouring operation.

5. In combination, a liquor bottle having a neck, a cap on the neck, a pouring device for attachment to the neck of the bottle for accurate control over the quantity of liquor dispensed and the rate of pouring, said pouring device comprising a pouring tube adapted to be arranged essentially concentrically inside the bottle and interiorly of the neck, said tube having a restricted inner end provided with a central air vent hole for directing ambient air inwardly into the bottle replacing the liquid being poured, said tube having an outer end and a series of liquid drainage ports spaced inwardly of the outer end and communicating with the interior of the tube, a radially extending annular flange integrally connected with the tube at the tube outer end, a circumferentially extending rim integral with and depending from the outer periphery of the flange, said rim having means for sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle neck, a substantially concentric tubular pouring spout extending integrally and outwardly from the flange and communicating with the interior of the tube to direct air thereto and communicating with the drainage ports for directing liquid passing through such ports in a controlled manner, said cap comprising an interior substantially planar surface for sealingly engaging with the pouring spout, an annular shoulder spaced from said planar surface for sealingly engaging with the flange of the pouring device, and said cap and the neck of the bottle having mating threads for threadedly engaging the cap on the neck of the bottle, said bottle, cap and pouring device being so constructed and arranged that during the application of the cap to the neck of the bottle an initial seal between the pouring spout and the cap inner planar surface is created by compressing the pouring spout prior to engagement of the annular shoulder and flange followed by a seal between the shoulder and pouring device flange upon completing the threaded engagement of the cap on the neck of the bottle it which point the pouring spout is further compressed.

6. The invention in accordance with claim wherein )afile means are disposed intermediate said tube and the aottle neck adjacent said liquid discharge ports for conrolling the flow of liquor to the liquid discharge ports.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein the nterior planar surface of the cap is provided by a cap iner attached to the interior of the cap.

8. A pouring device for attachment to the neck of a ,iquor bottle for accurate control over the quantity of .iquid dispensed and the 'rate of pouring, comprising a aouring tube adapted to be arranged essentially concen- :rically inside the bottle and interiorly of the neck, said :ube having a restricted inner end provided with a central air vent hole for directing ambient air inwardly into the bottle replacing the liquid being poured, said tube having an outer end and a series of liquid drainage ports spaced inwardly of the outer end and communicating with the interior of the tube, a radially extending annular flange integrally connected with the tube at the tube outer end, a circumferentially extending rim integral with and depending from the outer periphery of the flange, said rim having means for sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle neck, a substantially concentric tubular pouring spout extending integrally and outwardly from the flange and communicating with the interior of the tube to direct air thereto and communicating with the drainage ports for directing liquid passing through such ports in a controlled manner, annular gating means being disposed concentrically with respect to the drainage ports and being provided with a second series of openings through which the liquor is adapted to pass into the said drainage ports, the second series of drainage ports being in offset relationship with respect to said liquid drainage ports whereupon the annular gating means operates as a baflle for the liquor traveling to said liquid drainage ports, a substantially circular bathe being positioned on said tube and extending radially therefrom between the liquid drainage ports and the inner end of said tube and serving as a splash bathe for receiving the impact of liquid in the bottle that is led to said liquid drainage ports and the pouring spout, said gating means operating to space said circular baffle from said flange and a lug means on the exterior of said tube serving to space said circular bafile from the inner end of said tube.

9. A pouring device for attachment to the neck of a liquor bottle for accurate control over the quantity of liquid dispensed and the rate of pouring, comprising a pouring tube adapted to be arranged essentially concentrically inside the bottle and interiorly of the neck, said tube having a restricted inner end provided with a central air vent hole for directing ambient air inwardly into the bottle replacing the liquid being poured, said tube having an outer end and a series of liquid drainage ports spaced inwardly of the outer end and communicating with the interior of the tube, a radially extending annular flange integrally connected with the tube at the tube outer end, a circumferentially extending rim integral with and depending from the outer periphery of the flange, said rim having means for sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle neck, a substantially concentric tubular pouring spout extending integrally and outwardly from the flange and communicating with the interior of the tube to direct air thereto and communicating with the drainage ports for directing liquid passing through such ports in a controlled manner, a substantially circular bafile being positioned on said tube and extending radially therefrom between the liquid drainage ports and the inner end of said tube and serving as a splash bafile for receiving the impact of liquid in the bottle that is led to said liquid drainage ports and the pouring spout, and spacing means on said tube adapted to fix the location of said circular bafile relative to said flange and the inner end of said tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Examiner. 

1. A POURING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE NECK OF A LIQUOR BOTTLE FOR ACCURATE CONTROL OVER THE QUANTITY OF LIQUOR DISPENSED AND THE RATE OF POURING, COMPRISING A POURING TUBE ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED ESSENTIALLY CONCENTRICALLY INSIDE THE BOTTLE AND INTERIORLY OF THE NECK, SAID TUBE HAVING A RESTRICTED INNER END PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL AIR VENT HOLE FOR DIRECTING AMBIENT AIR INWARDLY INTO THE BOTTLE REPLACING THE LIQUID BEING POURED, SAID TUBE HAVING AN OUTER END AND A SERIES OF LIQUID DRAINAGE PORTS SPACED INWARDLY OF THE OUTER END AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE TUBE, A RADIALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITH THE TUBE AT THE TUBE OUTER END, A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING RIM INTEGRAL WITH AND DEPENDING FROM THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE FLANGE, SAID RIM HAVING MEANS FOR SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LIP OF THE BOTTLE NECK, A SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC TUBULAR POURING SPOUT EXTENDING INTEGRALLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE FLANGE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE TUBE TO DIRECT AIR THERETO AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE DRAINAGE PORTS FOR DIRECTING LIQUID PASSING THROUGH SUCH PORTS IN A CONTROLLED MANNER, AND ANNULAR GATING MEANS BEING DISPOSED CONCENTRICALLY AND RADIALLY OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAINAGE PORTS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A SECOND SERIES OF SPACED OPENINGS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER BY SPACED PANELS AND THROUGH WHICH THE LIQUOR IS ADAPTED TO PASS INTO THE SAID LIQUID DRAINAGE PORTS. 